Mobile Dynon Data

[akarmy]

Ok, I can't be the only one that has had this happen to. Too many times I arrive at the airport ready to go flying, and upon startup I get the dreaded, your chart data is out of date on my Skyview system. Now what I really want is a wifi cellular mobile download accessory to install into my plane so it's always current. Since I can't have that... I came up with this.

So it's a simple flash drive from Sandisk, however the neat part is that it has USB on one side, and an iphone lightening connector on the other side. You can simply plug it into your phone, go to the dynon website, download the current data update, unplug from phone, plug into your dynon USB port and update your aviation data. All in just a few min (or seconds depending on your connection speed).

I made a little saved shortcut in my flying folder on the phone that takes me directly to the download website to make it easy.

I have found for some reason the Sandisk software only works with safari on the iphone (the default browser) so don't try chrome or other browsers. Once you have downloaded the data you click the little sharing icon at the bottom and say to open in "SanDisk iXpand Drive" which saves the file to the USB stick.

Here is the USB stick

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CIEBU22

Hopefully that helps someone else out there. Or I'm sure you'll let us know if there's another way to accomplish this as well. Even once moving to an Airpark where I have my plane at home with wifi in the hangar it's really handy to just grab the usb stick from the bench and download the data with your phone.

(PS, I cross posted this to VAF as well so don't shoot me)

 

[Raymo]

I used a couple Ubiquiti directional antenna to beam the FBO WiFi to my hangar but this solution is great for its limited purpose.

 

[Jrskygod]

How would I do this with an android phone?

 

[Raymo]

How would I do this with an android phone?

A quick search on Amazon turned up this item that does the same thing.

https://www.amazon.com/penobon-Computer-Android-Resistant-Frosted/dp/B07BDH2P1S/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1522862035&sr=8-4&keywords=android+phone+storage&dpID=41TuSPRW-fL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

 

[akarmy]

How would I do this with an android phone?

A quick search on Amazon turned up this item that does the same thing.

https://www.amazon.com/penobon-Computer-Android-Resistant-Frosted/dp/B07BDH2P1S/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1522862035&sr=8-4&keywords=android+phone+storage&dpID=41TuSPRW-fL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

or this one, if you want to stay with Sandisk

https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-32GB...sr=8-1&keywords=sandisk+micro+usb+flash+drive

 

[Jrskygod]

Thanks Ray - already ordered and on the way. Gotta love Amazon. Think I'll buy some more stock!!

Andy thanks for the tip and the great write up. I have made the trip back to the office fron the airport several times already because I had the Seattle updates on USB but forgot to download the updates from Dynon - DOH!!!! Now I won't have to worry about it, and if on a trip it will be easy peasy.

 

[DonFromTX]

Thanks Ray - already ordered and on the way. Gotta love Amazon. Think I'll buy some more stock!!

I immediately ordered one too Ted, then realized I no longer own a Skyview!!!

 

[rvator51]

When I download the database to the iPhone and then to the iXpand flash drive, it adds a “.zip” extension to the “.duc” extension, so file isn’t able to be read by Skyview. I have to put flash drive in PC and rename the file to delete the “.zip” extension before I can use it. Anyone else have the same problem and know a solution to fix it?

 

[akarmy]

No not seeing that.

I use mobile safari (default browser on iphone)
go to the dynon downloads page
hit the download button
it eventually downloads and shows the file FAAxxxxx.duc
Hit the box with the up arrow center bottom of screen
select SanDisk iXpand Drive to share the file to
should be just the *.duc file at this point and save it to the drive.

 

[rvator51]

Hi Andy,

I did exactly the same procedure as you did on my iPhone, but it add a ".zip" to the end of the .duc" file; which makes it unusable.  Searching the internet to see if there is a setting on my iPhone somewhere that is causing this... 

 

[DonFromTX]

A word of caution, I ordered one for Android, not realizing it has the OLD Samsung plug, will not work on a Samsung Galaxy 8 or 9 like I have..

 

[akarmy]

Hi Andy,

I did exactly the same procedure as you did on my iPhone, but it add a ".zip" to the end of the .duc" file; which makes it unusable.  Searching the internet to see if there is a setting on my iPhone somewhere that is causing this... 

So I'm thinking you need to load some software on the iphone to unzip the file. I happen to have a document viewer that unzips it. You might try this info to test.

http://osxdaily.com/2013/05/13/open-zip-files-iphone-ipad/

 

[rvator51]

Thanks Andy,
It took some playing around with the IXpand app but if you left swipe on the file name and then tap on the three Red dots, an option is available to rename the file. So I just deleted that “.zip” from it and now the file name is correct. An extra step but it works.